Dubai boss hopes for Roger Federer's anniversary
The tournament director of the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai, Salah Tahlak, has a very clear favorite for his event.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 15, 2019, 07:30 am
From spring 2018, Roger Federer would have offered several locations for his 100th tournament triumph. After the Swiss man was able to lift the trophy for the 98th time at an ATP event in Stuttgart, the further plan would have been as follows: victory in Halle and then completing the one hundred in Wimbledon. Or at least at the home tournament in Basel. Or at the latest at the ATP final in London.
Well, this idea failed very early in Halle on Borna Coric, who copes quite well with the game of the Maestro. At Wimbledon, Federer was also unable to reload, despite match balls against Kevin Anderson. The title in Basel was the last so far, in London as well as before in Paris-Bercy was in the semifinals.
Strong competition for Federer in Dubai
For Salah Tahlak, it was a steep step towards wishing a friendly draw for the Swiss for the draw next Saturday in Dubai. It will not be easy for Federer at the ATP Tour 500 event, besides Borna Coric mentioned above, Stefanos Tsitsipas, the man who took the 37-year-old out of the Australian Open, will also be at the start.
"There has always been a strong connection between Roger and Dubai," said Tahlak. "It is very important to us that he is back." Federer had given up the start in 2018, having suffered a defeat that was difficult to explain the previous year before the start against Evgeny Donskoy.
Last victory in 2015 against Novak Djokovic
"I hope the draw will help Roger next Saturday," added Tahlak. "Because if he reaches the final and wins, it will be his eighth title in Dubai and of course the 100th in his career."
It will be a magical moment, Tahlak continues. Because for the Dubai boss there is obviously no question that Roger Federer is creating this milestone. But only when. Federer got his last triumph in 2015. Back in the final against Novak Djokovic.